Weak practical execution of disaster policies warn
Speakers at a press conference said that although Bangladesh has various disaster management policies on paper, serious weaknesses remain in their practical implementation. Lack of social preparedness and community-level response capacity was identified as one of the most critical vulnerabilities, accounting for 27.2 percent of the overall risk factors highlighted in the study.
The findings were presented at a press conference held at the Khulna Press Club conference hall on Sunday.
The study revealed alarming gaps in public preparedness and institutional capacity to respond to fire-related and mass casualty emergencies in Bangladesh. The research found that nearly 60 percent of people in the country have no training in basic first aid, while most also lack knowledge about the safe transportation of burn victims.
The study was conducted by the CMN and Basu Health Research Center, a Khulna-based research organisation, under the supervision and with support from the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC).
Professor Dr Banga Kamol Basu, principal investigator of the study and programme head of the research centre, presented the findings of the study titled “Immediate Response and Overall Management of Mass Burn and Poly-trauma Emergencies in Bangladesh.”
According to the researchers, data were collected from several high-risk industrial and urban areas, including Dhaka and Khulna city corporations, Mongla, Savar and Ashulia.
The speakers warned that rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are increasing the country’s vulnerability to fires and earthquakes. Without immediate and effective measures, they said, Bangladesh could face major humanitarian disasters in the future. The study found that more than 62 percent of respondents were unaware of how to ensure the safe transportation of burn victims during emergencies.
More alarmingly, many people still believe in harmful traditional practices such as applying toothpaste, oil or ice to burn injuries.
Researchers also noted that public awareness of internationally recognised burn management guidelines remains extremely limited, significantly increasing the risk of complications and deaths during emergencies.
The research further revealed that both public and private hospitals in the country have limited burn and trauma care capacity. Coordination gaps among emergency response agencies, along with delays in communication and information sharing, often hinder rapid treatment and patient transfer operations.
To address the situation, the researchers recommended implementing an integrated disaster preparedness model. Their recommendations include mapping industrial zones and hospital capacities, introducing “green corridors” for fire service and ambulance movement, installing fire hydrants at key locations, and forming coordination committees at the city corporation and upazila levels.
They also stressed the need to strengthen 24-hour emergency response units in hospitals, introduce standard triage systems, and make regular first aid training and fire drills mandatory in schools, colleges and industrial areas.
